Falcons select Washington EDGE Bralen Trice with 3rd round pick

Atlanta snags an EDGE at last, and it’s Michael Penix’s college teammate.

We have begged the Atlanta Falcons to take an EDGE for as long as I can remember, and even when they do so, the need for more remains acute. That’s why the team deciding to use a third round pick on one will likely be met with applause, making this the first truly popular pick of the 2024 NFL Draft for the team thus far.

Popularity doesn’t matter, of course, but the quality of the player does. The Falcons are hoping they’re getting a good one with Washington EDGE Bralen Trice.

Michael Penix’s college teammate, Trice put up a combined 16 sacks and 23.5 tackles for a loss over the past two seasons. He’s a productive, smart player who figures to be a useful all-around EDGE option for the Falcons, and if he lacks elite athleticism he certainly brings relentless pursuit and quality size to the group. It’s worth wondering if his elite college production in terms of pressures will carry over the pros, but I think you’re looking at a consistent six sack player in the NFL, and with some time and tinkering he could be more than that and a solid run defender. That’s a nice addition in the third round.

The Falcons have made some head-scratching decisions on paper in this draft, between taking a quarterback at eight and trading up to grab Ruke Orhorhoro when he was not projected to go that early. Trice is not one of those, and he’s an immediate contributor to a group that needed immediate contributors very badly. We’ll see if he has the kind of upside to become a force at EDGE for the Falcons, but even if he settles in as a high-end rotational option, that’s something this team badly needed.

What do you think of the selection?